Bianchi father 'less optimistic' over recovery

The father of Jules Bianchi says he is less optimistic over the chances of the former Formula 1 driver ever making a recovery from the severe injuries which he suffered at last year's Japanese Grand Prix.

Bianchi suffered a diffuse axonal injury when his Marussia collided with a tractor which was tending to the stricken Sauber of Adrian Sutil.

Bianchi has remained in a coma since the accident and, according to father Philippe, has shown no real signs of progress throughout his stay in hospital.

"It's unbearable, it is a daily torture, it is certainly more terrible than if he had died in the accident," Bianchi Sr told France Info. "We are not able to help him any more than we have."

"In general, progress must be made in the first six months and now it's been nine months and Jules is still not awake and there is no significant progress.

"The more time passes, it makes me less optimistic than I was two or three months after the accident when I could hope for a better outcome.

"It's hard to get up in the morning saying that you are not sure your son will live and that every day it's like that. At some point, you have to have your feet on the ground and realise the gravity of the situation."

Bianchi Sr says that the pair had discussed Michael Schumacher's skiing accident and reckons that his son would struggle to cope, even if he awoke from his coma.

"If he has to have very severe disabilities we are convinced that this is not at all what Jules wants," he said.

"We talked about it. He told us that if he happened one day to have an accident of the type of Michael Schumacher, and it meant he couldn't drive, it would be very difficult for him to live it. Because it was his life."